Automobile heater control apparatus



June 23, 1942.

G. J. FAIRBANKS AUTOMOBILE HEATER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rfre June 23, '1942. G. J. FAIRBANKs 2,287,574

. A'I'OMOBILE HEATER CONTRL APPARATUS Filed sept. a. 1941 2 sheetssheetz Patented June 23,'19-42 Gordon J. Fairbanks, Chicago, lll., asslgnor to Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, IIL, a corporation of Virginia s Application september 8,1941, serial No. 410,032

` Y 3 claims. My invention relates generally to controls for automobile heaters, and particularly to remote` controls for heaters of the internal combustion type.

In the installation o! internal combustion type heaters upon automobiles, trucks, buses,.and the like, it is frequently desirable to locate the heater or heaters in positions in which the usual control button on the heater itself is not readily accessible to the operator of the vehicle. In order to make possible the control of the heater unit by the operator of the vehicle when the heater is j located remotely from the operator, or in a position where the operation o1' the usual control on the heater would distract the operator from his driving duties, I have provided a remote control in which the control button may be located on the instrument panel of the vehicle or in any other position conveniently `accessible to the operator for manual operation.

It is thus an object Voi my invention to provide an improved remote manual control for automobile heaters of the internal combustion type.

A further object is to provide an improved remote control for heaters of the internal combustion type which may be utilized with heaters of otherwise standard construct-ion without material alterations in the heater structure.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view-of portions of the heater and the remote control therefor;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged" fragmentary sectional view showing the connection of the remote control to the control valve rod of the heater;

Fig. 3 is a lfragmentary sectional view showing the method of attachment of the control Wire casing to the top of the heater;

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views ofthe attachment ttings and,

Fig. 6 is an exploded View showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 3. Thecontrol apparatus is illustrated as applied to a heater of the internal combustion type such I as that disclosed, for example, in prior Patents No. 2,177,114 and No. 2,190,671, comprising generally a radiator casting I6 having a circuitous passageway I2 formed therein, the passageway terminating at an outlet valve port I4 adapted to be closed by a valve I6 formed at the end of a valve stem I6.

The valve port I4 is connected to the intake of which `serves as a means to draw the products of combustion through the circuitous vpassagewayV I2 so that by moving the valve stem to the left,

the valve I6 is opened and the heater thus conditioned for operation. Such'opening movement of the valve also results in the proper operation of a pair of switches 20 and 2| which, respectively. control the supply of current to an electrical igniter and a fan motor 22. The switches 20 and 2| are controllable in part by the depending end portion 24 of a switch arm 26. The end portion 24 of the switch arm normally engages an insulating washer 2`|` which is backed by a collar 28 which is secured to the valve stem IB by a set screw 29. Thus, when the valve stem I8 is moved to the left (Fig. 2) the resilient;- switch arm 26, due to its spring bias, will likewise swing to the left to close the switch 20 to initiate operation of the heater.

The set screw 29 serves to `secure to the end of the valve stem I8 a flexible cable 30 which is preferably of the type comprising a pair of closely wound spiral wires wound `in opposite directions, one over the other. Such flexible cable is capable of transmitting torque in either direction aswell as transmitting forces longitudinally of the cable. The cable 30 extends through a rigid metal tube 32, which is suitably formed to avoid abrupt changes in curvature, This tube may be suitably finished to add to the ornamental appearance of the heater. l l

Heaters of the type illustrated usually have housings provided with ornamental trim beads, such as the beads 33, 34, and 35 shown attached to the housing 36 in Fig. 1. In order that the lower end of the tube 32 may be attached to the housing 36 without disturbing the appearance of these ornamental beads, I provide a mounting plate 3|, as shown in Fig. 4, which has a slot 31 to receive the trim bead 33 and grooves 3 9 to receive the molding beads 34 and 35.

' is sufficiently large to receive the` collar 28 when manifold of the automobile engine, thevacuum the valve is moved to its open position. The mounting plates 3| and 40 are secured to the housing 36 by countersunk head screws extending through openings 44 and 46 formed inthe plates 40 and 3|, the screws being threaded in the housing 36.

The upper end of the tube 32 extends into a suitably formed opening in an attachment fitting M, the lower surface of which is conformed to the contour of the casing n, the tube being preferably secured to this fitting by silver soldering.

A iiexible tube ll guides the cable from the ntting M to a bushing 5U, the end of the tube I2 housing I6 by a pair of countersunk screws 5l extending through the housing 36 and threaded in nuts 80. The upper end of the cable l0 has a control button 62 secured thereto, as by. a set4 screw 6l.

The heater is supplied with the tube 32 attachment plates 3i and l0, as well as the attach-V ment iltting 44, secured in place on the heater. Thus, in making the installation, it is necessary spenen I embodiment of my invention. it will be apparentl to those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the specific form of the apparatus without departing from the more basic principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an automobile heater of the internal combustion type having a reciprocable and rotatable valve for controlling its operation. the combination of a iiexible cable having one end secured to said valve, said cable being capable of transmitting torque and longitudinally directed forces, a rigid guiding tube secured to said heater for guiding said flexible cable, a control button positioned remote from said heater, said control button ybeing secured to the other end of said flexible cable, and-a nexible tube surrounding" and guiding the portion of the flexiblel cable extending from the heater vto the control button.

2. In van; automobile heater of the internal v combustion type having a casing and a recipromerely to attach the bushing 50 to the instrument panel 52 or other support, extend the cable downwardly through the rigid tube 32 and into the socket formed in the end of the valve stem' i8, where it is secured by tightening the set screw 29. The Aend of the exible tube 4l may then be inserted between the fitting M and the saddle 56 and the latter parts securely clamped'to the casing 36. Thereafter, it is necessary`merely to secure the control button 62` to the upper end of the cable 30.

In using the control, the operator needs merely to pull the button 62 in order to Aopen the valve f i I6. Inasmuch as the valve I8 may'adh'ere to its seat Il, due to the accumulation of carbon and other particles, it is desirable that in pulling the valve from its seat it be rotated. Such rotation by the valve relative to its seat' has a tendency f to clean the cooperating surfaces of these parts, and assure proper functioning of the valve. It is for this reason that it is desirable thatthe cable 30 be of such construction as to be capable of transmitting torque as well as longitudinal forces. Such rotary movement is also desirable in facilitating the disengagement oi' a detent spring Si (Fig. 2) which is adapted to engage in shallow grooves 61, 68, and 69, formed in the valve stem I 8 for holding the valve respectively in its oil, intermediate, and full-on positions.

From the foregoing it will appear that I have provided a very simple remote control apparatus for automobile heaters which maybe easily installed substantially irrespective of the position of the heater with respect to the operators seat, which permits the heater to be easily controlled, which is of rugged, durable construction, and which enables the operator of the vehicle to eiect the control of the heater in a simple and eicicnt manner.

While I have shown and described a particular cable and rotatable valve for controlling its 0peration, said valve having a stem extending rearwardly near the bottom of the heater casing, the combination of a flexible cable having one end secured to said valve stem, said cable being capable of transmitting torque in either direction as well as longitudinally directed forces,va generally U-shaped rigid guiding tube having both ends thereof secured to said casing for guiding said flexible cable, a control button positioned remote from said heater, said control button being secured to the other endof said flexible cable. a iiexible tube surrounding and guiding the portion of the flexible cable extending from said casing to the control button, a clamp securing one end of said flexible tube to said casing, and means for detachably securing the other end of said ilexible tube to a support in position for convenient operation by the driver of the automobile.

3. In an automobile heater of the internal combustion type having an irregularly shaped casing and a reciprocable valve for controlling its operation, the combination of a flexible cable having one end secured to said valve, said cable being capable of transmitting torque and longitudinally directed forces, a pair of mounting plates conforming tp the shape of said casing and secured thereto, a rigid guiding tube having its ends secured to said mounting plates for guiding said flexible cable, a control button positioned remote from said heater. said control button being secured to the other end of said flexible cable, and a flexible tube surrounding and guiding the portion of the ilexible cable extending from the heater. to the control button, said flexible tube having one end secured to one of said mounting plates and its other end secured to a support 

